Christmas and a New Year

Here are some photos to catch you up on the end of 2008 for the Whelan family.

At Green Needles' Christmas Tree farm picking out a tree. This is our Lynchburg Christmas tree tradition! There are goats on the farm, and this one behind Luke is standing on the table! It was so cold that day, we picked a tree in a hurry and got home with it. While we were decorating it started snowing. It was so picturesque!

The family in front of the tree.

Luke's preschool class sang Christmas songs for us and got to wear their pajamas. Luke was all about the hand motions and sang out really well.

Jackson's class joined in on a few songs. Both boys are still singing Christmas songs around the house, especially "Away in a Manger," "Silent Night," and "Jingle Bells."

The preschoolers enjoyed birthday cake for Jesus after their performance. Luke was excited to be with best buds Hadley and Holter.

Christmas morning at our house! Santa put toothbrushes in their stockings--isn't he practical?

More bliss. The big present from Santa was Nerf guns. Luke got a Goobi magnet set from us, Candyland from Jackson. Jackson got a singing, light-up, hydraulic car from us and bath crayons from Luke.

On Christmas Day we traveled to Newnan, GA, to stay at Shane's oldest sister's house for a few days. Here are four of the cousins before they opened presents. All are donned in MSU apparel for a special grandkid picture taken that day.

We then traveled to Marietta to stay with my parents for a few days. Luke and Jackson were listening to this present to figure out what it was...but it wasn't making noise so I'm not sure how useful that was =)

Shane and I spent New Year's Eve with my brother, Ben. We went to a fun Irish pub and it was great to spend some time with Ben.

Ringing in 2009! Enjoying life as usual.

Colorado

The Rockies!

Aspen Trees

Ring Around The Rosey

Sprague Lake

The Keyhole at Devil's Backbone Trail

Bear Lake

Elk!

Time with GG and Grandpa and Halloween

A hard nights work

Jackson is terrified of the dragon

Say hello to my little friend!

Luke, Grandpa, and GG

The Natural

Mississippi State Visit

We spent some time in Starkville and walked around campus quite a bit. Luke and Jackson had fun exploring the home of the Dawgs!

GG and the boys

Some column loving!

Open your eyes

Luke was loving the glider.

"Bully" and the boys.

Fall Carnival and Pumpkin Patch

Painting Pumpkins Sliding Down

The Cautious One

Bean Bad Tossin'

The Bold One

The Joys of Fall

The boys' first day of preschool. Jackson did wear shoes once he got to school. =)

Family picture on a hayride at Drumhellers' Orchard.

Luke, Jackson, and Nana explored the fields around Appomattox Courthouse.

Nana and Pop with the boys. We had so much fun together, enjoying the beautiful weather and each other's company.

"Picking" apples at the Orchard.

Nana and Pop pose with a pumpkin in front of the apple trees.

Luke and Jackson with the pumpkins they picked off the vine.

Who you really want to see...

What have Luke and Jackson been up to this summer?

Hiatus

Our summer was a-ma-zing! We were too busy to blog as we went along, but now we can give you the recap. Here are some glimpses into youth trips to Senior High RYM in Panama City in July and a mission trip to the Wade Center in Bluefield, WV in August.